Three MD/PhD students from the Medical Scientist Training Program (MSTP) were recognized among this year's Elite 50 recipients, the best of the best among IUPUI's graduate and professional students.
Christopher Schorr, MS2
What are your interests/passions in medicine?
I am interested in the field of Hematology/Oncology. My interest in medicine began when I was younger and my sister was diagnosed with pediatric nephrotic syndrome. Watching the medical staff help make her better really inspired me to explore medicine later in life. I am very excited by the recent progress in cancer therapies, especially CAR T-cell therapy. I intend to use my prior experiences in chemical engineering, biochemistry, and computer science to progress immunotherapies targeting cancer. As a physician-scientist-engineer, I hope to weave all these disciplines to impact patient lives significantly.
What service learning, leadership and/or volunteer initiatives have you participated in?
I have been very involved in several cancer organizations, including the American Cancer Society (ACS), Purdue University Dance Marathon (PUDM), and the International Breast Cancer & Nutrition (IBCN) Project. During my sophomore year at Purdue, I founded and served as the Cancer Prevention Initiative (CPI) president. I led a group of undergraduate students to support cancer prevention research globally and outreach to the community to promote healthy living. During my first two years as a medical student at IU School of Medicine, I have served as an orientation leader, an academic tutor, and a peer mentor to assist others. I currently serve as chief operating officer (COO) for Gold Team Investments LLC. and am a member of the Virtual Content Committee of the American Physician-Scientist Association (ASPA).
Is there a specific faculty member or mentor who has helped you through medical school?
Several people have helped me through my journey up to now and their guidance has been fundamental to my success. I would like to give special thanks to several of the faculty members at IU School of Medicine, including Dr. Fabiana Perna, Dr. Xiaoping Bao, Dr. Maegan Capitano, Dr. Jim Ropa, and Dr. Kelvin Lee. I am most personally indebted to the recently passed – Dr. Hal Broxmeyer – who was my early mentor when I began my studies at IU School of Medicine. Dr. Broxmeyer was an inspiration to me and guided me to where I am now. His passion for medicine, focused optimism, and unmatched impact in his field has motivated me to emulate at least a fraction of him. I am truly honored to have been mentored by someone so humble and selfless.
What does it mean to you to be selected to the Elite 50?
I am very appreciative of being selected into the Elite 50. There’s a sense of pride being a student of Indiana University and representing the values of IU School of Medicine. I think it is great that there are awards for recognizing campus leadership, scholarly work, and community engagement. Being among the Elite 50 winners, who represent some of the best students leaders, scholars, and community activists at IUPUI, I am inspired to help others and make a lasting impact at IUPUI.
Olivia Bednarksi, GS2
What are your interests/passions in medicine?
My interests in medicine include infectious diseases, preventative medicine, women's health, and microbiome implications in health. My passions include treating the underserved and underinsured, combining research into clinical settings, supporting women in science.
What service learning, leadership and/or volunteer initiatives have you participated in?
- I am the current Chair of the IU Student Outreach Clinic (SOC) and I have been involved in various roles for the past four years.
- I am the founder of Women in Science in the Department of Microbiology + which offers speaker seminars and small groups to expose other students to female leaders on the research side.
- I am part of starting both the Infectious Disease SIG and the Geriatrics SIG
- I am a Big Sister for a young girl in the Big Brother Big Sister organization in Indianapolis.
Is there a specific faculty member or mentor who has helped you through medical school?
Many, many people have made it possible for me to achieve what I have. To speak of a few, Dr. Nathan Schmidt, my research mentor, has not only helped me excel scientifically but also has supported me in all my extracurricular activities. Dr. Javier Sevilla has been a fantastic faculty advisor for the SOC and continues to guide me to be a better servant leader. Finally, Dr. Brittney Shea Herbert has been in my corner since day one of medical school, and my confidence to start new programs comes from her encouragement.
What does it mean to you to be selected to the Elite 50?
I feel very lucky that my true passions align with benefiting the community. IUSM has made it possible for me to be a self-starter and am very grateful for the support. I did not think I would be selected for the Elite 50, but I am very happy I was chosen, and I hope to continue to make IUPUI proud.
Paul Sohn, MS4
What are your interests/passions in medicine?
I am thrilled to have matched into ophthalmology residency here at IU School of Medicine! My interests are the effects of diabetes in various diseases of the eye, including glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy. I hope to utilize the skills that I have obtained through the MD/PhD training here at IU to help improve visual outcomes in the population that I serve.
What service learning, leadership and/or volunteer initiatives have you participated in?
I have had the opportunity to be a part of the IU Student Outreach Clinic since 2016. I have served in various positions on the Executive Board, including Volunteers, Research, and Supplies Chair.
Is there a specific faculty member or mentor who has helped you through medical school?
I would like to thank Dr. Carmella Evans-Molina and Dr. Tatsu Kono for continual encouragement and support that allowed me to cross the finish line during my PhD training. Further, I would like to thank Dr. Elizabeth Martin for her mentorship that helped guide my interest in ophthalmology.
What does it mean to you to be selected to the Elite 50?
I feel honored to complete my 8-year journey toward the MD/PhD degree with this award.
